Dear Peace family,
Lent
begins this year on March 1, just about as late as it can, and yet it always
seems to catch us by surprise. We like to cruise along in what some traditions
call "ordinary time"—those days when there is no special seasonal
emphasis in the liturgy. We seem to like ordinary.
But
then comes Lent, and the theme is more troubling. "Return to the Lord your
God," we sometimes sing. And we think, "Ah, yes. God. I have wandered
a bit, haven’t I?"
Of course that is what the whole history of Lenten discipline in the church is all about. We have wandered from God—maybe out of neglect, maybe out of apathy, maybe out of anger at God or someone else. We’ve allowed our own needs and wants—at least what we think are our needs and wants—to take first place in our lives.
That’s
why Lent, whenever it comes, is really a welcome time. It is God, saying to us,
"Hey, remember me?" It is God, whispering in our ear, "Time to
come home."
So how
will you respond in this sacred time?
How will you "return to the Lord your God"? Let me offer some
ideas.
First
and foremost, if you’ve allowed your attendance at worship to become a bit
slack, now is the time to return. Christians grow by feasting on the Word and
on the Sacrament. Sunday morning is where you find those things. If your
presence at church has become spotty, now is a good time. Return to the Lord
your God. Return to his house, to his table.
If your
own prayer life is presently dry, now is the time to return. Resolve that during
these 40 days you will take time each day to pray. Include a time of reading
the Scripture—maybe review the previous Sunday’s lessons, or read the next
Sunday’s (which are printed on the bulletin cover each week). Keep of list of
people for whom you want to pray, and do it daily. Return to the Lord your God.
If you
just sort of need a spiritual boost this season, make it a point to join us for
our midweek evening prayer services each Thursday (beginning March 9) at 7 p.m.
We’ll be focusing on several of the Psalms this year, good food for the soul at
any time but especially when we want to draw closer to God. Return to the Lord
your God.
Or, if
evenings are difficult for you, join us each Wednesday morning at 8:30 a.m. for
a quiet service of Morning Prayer. This is a great opportunity to set aside 20
minutes in the middle of the week for quiet reflection and prayer. Return to
the Lord your God.
If you
think, in considering your own life, that you’ve been lacking in concern for
those in need, now is the time to return. Come on a Wednesday evening and share
a meal with the homeless who are our guests through Hospitality House. Sign up
to work some Wednesday or Saturday on the Habitat for Humanity project which
will begin next month. Sign up to work at Interfaith Food Ministry. If you
can’t do anything like that, sacrifice a meal each week and give the money to
one of these ministries, or to another that moves your heart. Return to the
Lord your God.
This
season is when Christ reminds us that discipleship is actually about following
him. It requires some effort, some sacrifice, yes, some self-denial. What a
wonderfully gracious word it is we have from the Lord: "Return to the Lord
your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast
love."
It is
indeed a wonderful season. Take full advantage of the opportunity to grow in
your faith. Return to the Lord your God.
Peace
to you,
Pastor
Richard O. Johnson
Classic Prayers
Let not the problems of this day overwhelm me, Lord.
Give me to know Thy grace that is equal to all I may face now and reliable for
eternity. Grant me perspective in perplexity, patience in trial, and strength
in adversity. Through the Prince of Peace. Amen.
--E. Lee Phillips (1941- )
The worship of the church, like most
fields, has its own vocabulary. Many of the words are pretty well known among
active church members; others are not so common. Let’s have a little fun with a
little Reader’s Digest-style quiz
about some worship words. Answers to this multiple-choice test will be found
below—no peeking!
(1)
nave: (a) dark blue color used
during Advent; (b) a worship leader who’s disreputable; (c) the room in which
the congregation gathers for worship; (d) a newly ordained pastor.
(2)
narthex: (a) interior entrance hall
of a church building; (b) a bacterial infection spread by use of the common
cup; (c) the stop on the organ which makes the “tingling bell” sound; (d) a
processional cross.
(3)
Kyrie: (a) the “cry room” where mothers can take their
restless babies; (b) a prayer or litany asking for divine help; (c) a famous
New Zealand soprano; (d) the stop on the organ which makes the “tingling bell”
sound.
(4)
Gloria: (a) the ancient Christian
hymn based on the angels’ song to the shepherds; (b) the technical name for the
altar guild member on duty; (c) another name for “The Battle Hymn of the
Republic”; (d) any song of praise.
(5)
mensa: (a) a really intelligent
pastor; (b) the top surface of the altar; (c) the Latin name for restroom; (d)
the stop on the organ which makes the “tingling bell” sound.
(6)
purificator: (a) linen cloth used to wipe
rim of chalice after drinking, or in case of spill; (b) the person on the altar
guild who washes the communion ware after church; (c) a special dishwasher used
to clean individual communion cups; (d) the person who carries the incense in a
festive procession.
(7)
pericope (peh-RICK-oh-pee): (a) device enabling pastors to see around
corners; (b) the full name of the pelican puppet sometimes used in children’s
sermons; (c) a Scripture lesson appointed to be read on a particular Sunday;
(d) a vestment worn by bishops.
(8)
paten (PAT-ten): (a) a circular plate used for distributing the bread in
Holy Communion; (b) part of the process of making communion wafers; (c) a
formal name of the banners hung behind the altar; (d) the bowl in the baptismal
font.
(9)
alb: (a) the white linen that
covers the altar; (b) an offering plate; (c) white vestment worn by pastors and
other worship leaders; (d) the center aisle in the church.
(10)
flagon (FLAG-un): (a) a stand which
supports a banner or flag; (b) a pitcher which holds communion wine; (c)
portions of the liturgy that may be omitted if the service is running too long;
(d) the stop on the organ which makes the tingling sound.
Anwers to quiz: (no peeking!)
1.
(c) From the Latin for “ship,” referring to the
fourth-century image of the church building as a ship.
2.
(a) The narthex is between the front outside
door and the nave.
3.
(b) Derived from the Greek Kyrie Eleison, “Lord have mercy.” In the Lutheran liturgy, the
Kyrie is the sung prayer that begins the service.
4.
(a) From Gloria
in excelsis, the opening words of this very ancient Latin canticle.
5.
(b) From the Latin word for “table.”
6.
(a) From the Latin “to clean”; this
handkerchief-sized piece of linent has been in use since about the 13th
century.
7.
(c) From the Latin for “to cut around,” the word
refers to the section of Scripture read each week in the church. All the
pericopes together constitute the lectionary.
8.
(a) From the Latin for “plate.”
9.
(c) Taken from the Latin word for “white,” the
alb is the oldest of the church’s vestments. It is probably derived from the
Roman tunic, a common piece of clothing in the ancient world; but as fashions
changed, it came to be a distinctively Christian garb.
10.
(d)
From the Latin for “flask” or “bottle.”
How
to score yourself:
7-10
right: a liturgical pro; please volunteer to help with leading worship
4-6
right: not bad, but you could use a refresher course in liturgy
0-3
right: hmmm. . . .